Photographic printing machine



May 29, 1934. Q L GREGORY 1,960,811

PHOTQGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Fil ed June 6, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l ,37 INVENTOR M/MW BY Illllllll'll all! c. L. GREGORY PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MJWJJVENTQR BY W ATTORN EY y 1934- .c. L. GREGORY ,960,811

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1951 :s Sheets-Sheet 3 :IIIIIII INVENTOR Mw ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 29, 1934 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Carl Louis Gregory, New Rochelle, N. Y., assignor to Kislyn Corporation, Englewood, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application June 6, 1931, Serial No. 542,482

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved form of printing machine for use in copying from one film to another, more particularly when the films used in the machine are of the so-called goiiered type having a large number of lenticular elements thereon.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description and the annexed drawings, in which I have shown a selected embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of as much of the embodiment as is necessary to understand the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatus appearing in Fig. 1, as seen from the front of the structure appearing in that figure.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken on the same plane as Fig. 2, but showing the door of the film gate open.

Fig. '7 is a section on the line '77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal section through the films at the gate.

The invention is particularly adapted for use where it is deshed to copy from an original film to another, which other will for convenience be referred to as the copy film, and where the original and copy films have a multiplicity of lenticu lar elements on one surface thereof. This type of film is well known in the art, and is often formed by producing upon the film base a multiplicity or" closely spaced cylindrical elements running generally parallel to the length of the film. In Fig. 9 are shown two such films, with the cylindrical elements greatly exaggerated in size. Each of these elements acts as a lens, and in reproducing, it would be highly desirable to have an element 1 on the original film 2 accurately in register with a similar element 3 on the copy film 4. This, however, is a practical impossibility, because of the fact that the elements are so small in size. The result usually is that a reproduction on a copy film produces a moire effect, which is highly objectionable, and the object of my invention is to obviate that effect in copying.

According to my invention, I provide a means for slightly moving one film parallel to the other and transversely of the lengths of the films during the time that projection through the films is taking place. The amount of this movement is so slight that it will not materially affect the accuracy of the reproduction, but it is sufficient to obviate the moire effect. The amount of movement may be determined to fit each individual case, but, ordinarily, if it is of the order of the Width of one of the elements on the films, that is sufficient to get the desired result.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I have shown a film gate 5 having an exposure aperture 6 past which the two films 2 and 4 may be fed. The gate comprises a stationary base plate 7 and a door 8 hinged to the plate as at 9. Light from any suitable source (not shown) may pass through the films at the aperture 6, it being directed to the aperture through a light duct 10 and being intercepted intermittently by means of a shutter 11.

The two films may be moved together past the exposure aperture by suitable feeding mechanism, here exempiified as a pair of pins 12 engaging the usual perforations in the film margins, and operated by means of a cam 13 mounted on a shaft 14. This cam operates within a rectangularly-shaped opening 15 in the slide 16 mounted on a carriage 1'7, which slides vertically on guides 18. The arrangement is such that the cam will reciprocate the pins 12 both vertically and horizontally so as to give them movement in a closed path which is approximately rectangular in shape, in a manner well known in the art. Briefly, however, this movement is caused by a vertical reciprocating movement of the carriage 17 on the guides 18, and by a horizontal sliding movement of the slide 16 on the carriage 17. This mechanical movement is well shown in Fig. 3, but for the sake of clearness is omitted from Fig. 1.

The shaft 14; may be driven from any suitable source of power (not shown), and has thereon a worm gear 19 meshing with a similar gear 20 on a shutter shaft 21 carrying the shutter 11, by which arrangement the feed and the shutter are operated in synchronism.

Above the aperture and below the feed are the usual continuous sprockets 22 and 23, and these sprockets may be operated from a vertically extending shaft 24 having worm gears 25 and 26 meshing respectively with gears 27 and 28 on the shafts of the sprockets 22 and 23. The films are placed in contact with each other, and are given a continuous downward move- 'ment by means of the sprocket 22, being held in engagement with that sprocket by the usual guides 29. After leaving the sprocket 22, the films are arranged in the usual loop 30, and thence passed through the gate beneath which is disposed the feeding mechanism described 39 (Figs. 6 and I).

above. The films are then formed in the usual loop 31 and passed to the lower continual feed sprocket 23.

Normally, the films are held in close contact with each other, except during a brief interval of time while copying is taking place. During this brief interval of time, one film is given a slight lateral displacement with respect to the other, generally parallel to the planes of the and transversely to the length of the elements 1 and 3.

In order to perform this operation, I provide means for holding one film in close contact with the base plate, and the other film in close contact with a plate on the door 8. While held thus in close engagement with the two plates, one of these plates is given the slight lateral movement referred to above, carrying with it the film held thereto. Preferably, the films are slightly separated before giving this relative movement, this separation being minute in character, only enough to avoid rubbing together the cylindrical elements on the two films during the subsequent lateral motion of one film wit. respect to the other.

One means for obtaining the above operation has been shown in the illustrated embodiment, this means being shown as pneumatic.

The base plate 7 on opposite sides of the aperture is provided with chambers 32 and 33, and the door 8 is likewise provided with chambers 34 and opposite the chambers 32 and 33, respectively. Each of these chambers has a wall contacting with the adjacent film, and the wall of the chamber 32 is provided with a plurality of slots 36, while the wall of the chamber 33 is provided with the slots 37. In similar manner, the wall of the chamber 34 is provided with slots 38, and the wall of the chamber 35 with slots Each chamber is provided with suction producing means, here shown as a pipe leading outwardly from each chamber and joined at its outer end to a flexible connection 41 and 42, the connections 41 leading from the chambers 32 and 33, and the connections 42 leading from the chambers 34 and 35.

The connections 41 are joined together by a Y-fitting 43, and the connections 42 are joined at a similar Y-fitting 44, and both of these fittings are in turn joined to a single pipe 45 leading to a pump 46. This pump may be of any suitable type, the details of which it is not considered necessary to show. It is believed sufficient to say that the pump will alternately suck air away from the respective chambers and push air into them. This may be done by any well known and suitable pump mechanism, which may be operated by a cam 47 mounted on the shaft 14, and moving slides 48 mounted on guide rods 49. Since the cam 47 is mounted on the same shaft as the feed, which shaft is geared directly to the shutter shaft, all parts may be operated in synchronism with each other, without the use of complicated machinery.

The parts are so designed that during a portion of the time that exposure of the films is taking place at the aperture, the pump will exert a suction in the chambers so as to draw the film 2 against the walls of the chambers 32 and 33, and draw the film 4 against the walls of the chambers 34 and 35. In other words, the film 2 is held by suction closely against the base plate 7, while the film 4 is likewise closely held by suction against the door 8. While so held, one film is given a slight lateral movement with respect to the other. The amount of suction is preferably enough to slightly separate the films so as to avoid wear on their surfaces during the slight movement just referred to, although under some conditions the same result may be obtained by keeping the films in contact.

The door 3 comprises a plate 50 in which the chambers 34 and 35 are formed, and this plate has tongue and groove engagement with the body of the door 8 as indicated at 51, this engagement permitting movement of the plate 50 on the door 8 parallel to the films and laterally of their lengths.

The plate 50 has an extension 52 in which is a cam-shaped recess 53 to receive a cam 54 on a stub shaft 55. The cam is preferably provided with a shoulder 56, which prevents axial movement of the shaft or the cam. The shaft is provided at its end with a clutch element 57 adapted to be received in a groove in a cooperating clutch element 58 disposed in a bore in the end of the shutter shaft 21. The element 58 is moved lengthwise of the shaft 21 against the action of a spring 59, so that as the door 8, with the plate 50 thereon, is moved on the hinges 9, the clutch elements may be engaged and disengaged. The cam is, of course, shown exaggerated somewhat, it being understood that the cam, action is very slight, in order to cause the very slight movement of the film which is necessary or desirable.

In operation, the two films are threaded into the machine in the usual way, and are given their intermittent motion, and exposed while at rest in the aperture. Substantially at the instant that they become at rest, the cam 47 will operate the pump 46 to create a suction in the chambers 32, 33, 34, and 35, to draw the films closely into engagement with the walls of those chambers, thus holding the films in diiierent planes. Immediately thereafter, the cam 54 will operate to move one film laterally with respect to the other, this movement taking place during the time that the films are exposed. The movement may, and preferably does, consume most of the time of exposure.

. 1 According to the illustrated embodiment in which the cam is mounted directly on the shutter shaft, it is convenient to return the films to their original position during the time that the aperture is obscured, the pump at that time being operated to force a slight amount of air into the respective chambers and thus break the suction and release the films.

While I have shown the invention as embodied in a specific form, it to be understood that various changes in details may be made Without departing from the scope of the invention, and I therefore do not intend to limit myself except by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for printing goilerated film, means for feeding an original film. and a copy film step by step together past an exposure aperture, means for separating the films at the aperture, and means for giving the separated films a slight movement relative to each other in a direction parallel to their plane during exposure.

2. In a machine for printing gofferated film, a gate formed of two spaced plates parallel to each other and between which the films are adapted to pass, means for feeding an original film and a copy film together between said plates and past an exposure aperture with a step-bystep motion, means to hold each film in firm contact with one of said plates during part of the exposure period, and means to release said holding means.

3. In a machine for printing gofierated film, a gate formed of two spaced plates parallel to each other and between which the films are adapted to pass, means for feeding an original film and a copy film together between said plates and past an exposure aperture with a step-by-step motion, pneumatic means to hold each film in firm contact with one of said plates during part of the exposure period, and means to release said holding means. v

4. In a machine for printing gofferated film, a gate formed of two spaced plates parallel to each other and between which the films are adapted to pass, means for feeding an original film and a copy film together between said plates and past an exposure aperture with a step-bystep motion, means to hold each film in firm contact with one of said plates during part of the exposure period, means to release said holding means, and means to move one plate slightly with respect to and parallel with the other while said films are held in contact with the plates.

5. In a machine for printing gofferated film, a gate formed of two spaced chambered plates parallel to each other and between which the films are adapted to pass, means for feeding an original film and a copy film together between said plates and past an exposure aperture with a step-by-step motion, the chamber in each of said plates being adjacent the exposure aperture and having apertured Walls adjacent the films, pipes leading from said chambers, a pump connected to said pipes, and means to operate said pump, said means being synchronized with the film feeding means to create a suction in said chambers when the films are at rest, and to break said suction when the films are moving.

6. In a machine for printing goiferated film, a gate formed of two spaced chambered plates parallel to each other and between which the films are adapted to pass, means for feeding an original film and a copy film together between said plates and past an exposure aperture with a step-by-step motion, the chamber in each of said plates being adjacent the exposure aperture and having apertured walls adjacent the films, pipes leading from said chambers, a pump connected to said pipes, means to operate said pump,

said means being synchronized with the film feeding means to create a suction in said chambers when the films are at rest, and to break said suction when the films are moving, and means to move one of said plates slightly with respect to and parallel with the other while said suction is created in said chambers.

7. In a machine for printing goiferated film, a gate formed of two spaced plates parallel to each other and between which the films are adapted to pass, means for feeding an original film and a copy film together between said plates and past an exposure aperture with a step-by-step motion, a shutter operated by a shaft extending perpendicular to the planes of the films, a cam on said shaft and cooperating with a cam seat in one of said plates, means slidably mounting said plate so that it may be moved by said cam parallel with the other plate, and pneumatic means to hold each film in firm contact with one of said plates during part of the exposure period.

8. In a machine for printing gofierated film, a gate formed of two spaced plates parallel to each other and between which the films are adapted to pass, means for feeding an original film and a copy film together between said plates and past an exposure aperture with a step-by-step motion, a shutter operated by a shaft extending perpendicular to the planes of the films, a cam on said shaft and cooperating with a cam seat in one of said plates, means slidably mounting said plate so that it may be moved by said cam parallel with the other plate, pneumatic means to hold each film in firm contact with one of said plates during part of the exposure period, a shaft to operate said feeding means, and a cam on said shaft and adapted to operate said pneumatic means.

9. In a machine for printing gofferated film, means for feeding an original and a copy film step by step together and substantially in contact with each other past an exposure aperture, means for exposing them while at rest at said aperture, means to hold said films in fixed planes parallel to each other at said aperture, and means to displace one film relatively to the other and parallel to said planes during exposure.

10. In a machine for printing gofferated film, means for feeding an original and a copy film step by step together and substantially in contact with each other past an exposure aperture, means for exposing them while at rest at said aperture, means for slightly separating said films at said aperture, and means for moving one film laterally with respect to the other in a direction parallel to the planes of the films during exposure.

11. In a machine for printing gofferated film, means for feeding an original and a copy film step by step together and substantially in contact with each other past an exposure aperture, means for exposing them while at rest at said aperture, means for slightly separating said films at said aperture, means for moving one film laterally with respect to the other in a direction parallel to the planes of the films during exposure, and means for returning films to their original position relative to each other.

12. In a. machine for printing gofferated film, means for feeding an original and a copy film step by step together and substantially in contact with each other past an exposure aperture, means for exposing them while at rest at said aperture, means for slightly separating said films at said aperture, means for moving one film laterally with respect to the other in a direction parallel to the planes of the films during exposure, and means for returning films to their original position relative to each other after exposure.

13. In a machine for printing gofierated film, means for feeding an original and a copy film step by step together and substantially in contact with each other past an exposure aperture, means for exposing them while at rest at said aperture, suction means for slightly separating said films at said aperture, and means for moving one film laterally with respect to the other in a direction parallel to the planes of the films during exposure.

14. In a machine for printing gofferated film, means for feeding an original and a copy film step by step together and substantially in contact with each other past an exposure aperture, means for exposing them while at rest at said aperture, means forming suction chambers on opposite sides of said films, means to create a suction in said chambers when the films are at rest, means to move one film laterally with respect to the other while said suction is maintained, and means to break said suction.

15. In a machine for printing gofferated film,

the films, means to create a suction in said chambers when the films are at rest, means to move one film laterally with respect to the other while said suction is maintained, and means to break said suction.

CARL LOUIS GREGORY. 

